Stephen Patterson: This thorny throne: Russia, Royalty and the Romanovs

Stephen Patterson: This thorny throne: Russia, Royalty and the Romanovs

Royal Collection Trust is staging the exhibition Russia: Royalty & the Romanov at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace from 9 November 2018 until 28 April 2019. This exhibition, the first on the subject drawn solely from the Royal Collection, is devoted to Russia and the interaction of the British and Russian Royal families. It will feature a wide range of works; paintings, furniture, porcelain, photographs, jewellery and Faberge, all closely associated with Russia and its ruling family over nearly 300 years. Stephen Patterson, co-curator of the exhibition, will provide an overview of the exhibition and, drawing on works many of which are being shown in public for the first time, will focus on one particular aspect of research; hoe Queen Victoria, whose reign saw 4 Russian Emperors, learnt about Russia, through meetings with the Romanov dynasty, her family, ambassadors and friends. Especial emphasis will be given to the 1856 coronation of Alexander II and the marriages of the Queen’s second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, to the emperor’s s daughter in January 1874, and her granddaughter, Princess Alix of Hesse, to Emperor Nicholas II in 1894. This talk will incorporate a political dimension.

Stephen Patterson, Holder of the Honour of “Lieutenant of the Victorian Order” has worked for the Royal Household for over 30 years, and with his team is responsible for the documentation of all the works in the Royal Collection. He and co-curator Caroline de Guitaut have been researching works in the Royal Collection and Royal Archives associated with Russia for the past 5 years in preparation for the forthcoming exhibition. He has written and spoken on Orders and Decorations in Britain and Europe.